7 homes on Babbitt Courtwill be uplifted beginning the first week in June to prevent flooding damage.  For over 60+ years residents of Babbitt Courthave complained about flooding everytime there has been a severe storm. In fact, a few years ago I had to take a row boat to visit very upset constituents who experienced severe flooding damage. The town secured a grant of about $800,000 from the federal government that will enable every home on the street to get uplifted. 7 homeowners decided to take advantage of this opportunity.

After the last severe storm I promised to hold a Town Board meeting at the street until the neighborhood problem was resolved to the neighbors satisfaction. We had scheduled a Town Board meeting on June 9^th at Babbitt Court. However, since construction is scheduled to start that time – we’ve been requested not to show up.

AS A RESULT, the Town Board meeting will move to ANOTHER PROBLEM AREA: EastRumbrookParkwhich has many problems. I hope to start addressing these problems in next years budget. A 2002 report indicated that the park needs $1,761,400 of renovations, upgrades and development in a 3 phase process. The park developed in the 1970s was built on a former landfill site in which settlement has caused problems with grading to the upper and lower fields (lower fields corrected in 1989), parking lot deterioration, and sidewalk settlement. The light poles are rusting and need to be replaced with new poles. The plaza area between the upper fields, tennis courts, basketball courts and utility building need to be rebuilt.The upper field which is also used for softball needs to be enlarged.  The goal of this meeting is to encourage you to see the park for yourself. The Commissioner will highlight some of the problems –and emphasize why this park needs our attention. That meeting will take place beginning at 7:15 PM.

PAUL FEINER